Step 1
Cut a butterfly shape out of a black sheet of paper. If you are not that confident with drawing you can download a template here. (You should be able to print this on black paper and still see the lines.)

Step 2
Using a light coloured pencil-crayon draw shapes onto the wings of the butterfly (if you use the printable template you can skip this bit). Then using a pair of scissors, or a craft, knife cut out the shapes. Most kids will probably need a hand with this step.

Step 3
Get your squares of tissue paper and tear them into strips. You can choose any colours you want but bright colours work best!

Step 4
Get your glue-stick and apply some glue to the wing of the butterfly and then stick the strips across the wing. Don’t worry if the tissue paper overlaps, you can actually create some really interesting effects by layering it in this way. Make sure you lift the butterfly up every now and again, just to make sure it isn’t stuck to your work-surface!

Step 5
Turn your butterfly over and trim the paper strips so that they are level with the outside edge.

Ta-da…
Stick your butterfly to a window…

Top Tip:
To get kids more involved with the cutting stage let them make the holes in the wings using craft punches, or even a hole-punch.

This is so incredible. I just posted a short post about bad weather and colorful butterflies. We always use your butterfly template, it is so pretty. I came back to your site for the link, and found your todays butterfly post:)

Just a quick message to thank you, I made these today with my boys (4 and 6 years old), they loved the activity and the result! The butterflies are now displayed proudly in their bedroom.
Thanks again for the inspiration!

Beautiful! Just a tip – instead of glue, use contact paper. Lay the template face down on some clear contact paper (sticky side up) and then add the tissue paper. Then top with another sheet of contact paper (sticky side down). Cut around the edges and tape to a window. Less mess and you can keep them for years! That’s how we make ours 🙂

I love this butterfly and am featuring it as one of the projects on my Squidoo lens, “How to Make Butterfly Crafts.” At one time I read that if you trace over a pattern with green marker, you’ll get a good print of the pattern on black paper. It really does work, I’ve used the method in my art classes.

Absolutely love this. We were sent home a project with my sons kindergarten graduation project to decorate a paper butterfly as a family. We decided to do your idea as our project. The kids loved it and we are hoping to get first place in the contest! Thank you for all the help!